Purse-frame



(No Model.)

L. B. PRAHAR. PURSE FRAME. No. 533,743. Patented Feb. 5, 1895.

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UNTTEE STATES PATENT GFFEQEQ LOUIS B. PRAHAR, OF BROOIiLYN, NEYV YORK.

PURSE- FRATM E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 533,743, dated February 5, 1895.

Application filed May 16, 1394:.

Serial No. 511,436. (No model.)

To all whom it lnay concern.-

Be it known that I, Louis B. PRAHAR, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Purse and Similar Frames, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

IMy invention relates to an improvement in frames for purses, pocket books, bags, 850., and it has for its object to so construct the frame that when pressure is exerted exteriorly upon the frame at predetermined and substantially opposing points, the members or jaws of the frame will be siidingly moved bodily in opposite directions, on their pivots thus releasing the jaws from a latch or look engagement with each other, and enabling the latch or look to be located inside of the frame, and if located outside dispensing with the usual projections from the frame.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide a means whereby the jaws or members will be spring-controlled, and when forced bodily in opposite directions whereby the springs will be placed under tension, thus enabling the members or jaws of the frame to return to their normal position when relieved from pressure, and enabling the jaws or members of the frame to lock automatically and immediately upon being closed.

The invention consists in the novel con struction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar figures and letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the im proved frame applied to the purse. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the frame, the jaws or members being open, and a portion of the frame being broken away. Fig. 3 is a section taken essentially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, the jaws or members of the frame being partially closed. Fig. at is an enlarged, detail sectional view of one of the side connections between the members or jaws of the frame; and Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view of the pivot stud forming a portion of one of the side connec tions, and illustrating another means of locating the springs.

In carrying out the invention the frame consists of two jaws or members A and B, and these jaws or members may be made of any desired material, metal being preferably employed. The said members or jaws of the frame need not be of a spring character. In fact ordinarily they are stiffened, being substantially of a box character or U-shaped in cross section, since the prime object of this invention is to provide for the opening of such frames as do not possess spring qualities, enabling the frame therefore to be made as large or as small as may be found desirable.

The jaw A terminates at the inner or lower ends of its side portions in lugs or ears des ignated respectively as a, and a, and the op posing jaw B, is similarly provided with lugs or ears designated respectively as b and Z). The lugs or ears at corresponding sides of both sections or jaws of the frame are made to overlap or practically engage with each other. Thus the lug or eara will be located adjacent to the lug or ear I), and in the arrangement of these ears or lugs of each jaw or section will be an outer lug and the opposing one an inner lug.

In connection with the engaging lugs of each section or jaw, a pin or post 10 is employed. This pin or post is securely fastened to the innermost lug, the outer lug being free to slide upon the post; and the outer extremity of the post is preferably provided with a head of any desired formation. A spring 11 is coiled around the stud or post between the outermost or sliding lug and the head of the post; and the ends of the spring are coiled in opposite directions to an engagement preferably with the inner faces of both of the jaws or sections, as is clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4:.

In Fig. 4 I have illustrated the springs as passing at both ends directly from the stud or pin to a point within the jaws. Under such construction, the outer end of the spring in being bent inward to the jaw with which it is to engage, is necessarily more or less bent or bowed, and the bow portton, as shown in Fig. l, is more or less prominent in the complete frame. In order to strengthen the spring at this point its upper end may be passed through an opening in the stud or post 10, as shown in Fig. 5, whereby there will be less liability of breaking the spring when the studs or posts are manipulated. Under this construction one of the studs will be attached to the inner lug b of the jaw B, the outer lug a of the jaw A sliding upon that stud, while the opposite stud will be secured to the inner lug a of the jaw or section A, the outer lug b of the opposing jaw sliding upon the stud. It is therefore evident that when the jaws or sections of the jaws are closed and inward pressure is exerted simultaneously upon both of the studs, both jaws will be simultaneously moved bodily in opposite directions and the springs 11 will be forced under tension, and that the said springs will serve to return the jaws to their normal position when the studs are relieved from pressure. It is furthermore evident that if an interlocking latch is employed inside or outside of the frame for the purpose of locking together the jaws, when the jaws are moved bodily in opposite directions the engaging members of the latch will be separated, and thesprings 11 will serve to return the jaws to their normal position and will likewise perform the functions of opening springs, immediately throwing the jaws to an open position when the members of the latch are disconnected.

Any form of latch may be employed. In the drawings the latch is shown as located outside and as in the nature of an ornament located partly upon the top of one jaw and partly on the top of the opposing jaw, the sections of the ornament being designated respectively as 12 and 12. This ornament consists of a strip of metal, serving as a closing strip, since the strip extends over the inner faces of the jaws; and the inner ends of the sections of the metal ornamental strip are oppositely recessed, as shown in Fig. 1, and oppositelybeveled, as shown in Fig. 2,whereby the sections or jaws of the frame being in their normal position, when they are pressed together the contacting ends of the sections of the closing strip or ornament will slide by one another, carrying the jaws bodily in opposite directions against the tension of the springs 11; and the moment that the extension of one section of the closing strip meets the recessed portion of the opposing section, the springs will throw the extensions into the recesses and will produce a firm lock; and when the studs are pressed inward, and the jaws move bodily in opposite directions, the interlocking portions of the sections of the closing strip will be disconnected and the jaws will open.

It is evident that under the above construction the frame need not be in any manner elastic or possess spring qualities. Therefore the frame can be made of various materials and as heavy as may be desired, as the jaws or sections of the frame are moved bodily in opposite directions, the opening springs pro viding for the return of the jaws to their normal position.

IIaving thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a frame for purses, bags and similar articles,jaws pivotally connected and having a sliding movement in opposite directions upon their pivots, substantially as shown and described.

2. A frame for purses, pocket books, bags and similar articles, the jaws of which are pivotally connected and spring controlled, the said jaws being capable of sliding bodily upon their pivots in opposite directions, as and for the purpose specified.

3. A frame for purses, pocket books, bags and similar articles, the same consisting of two jaws the corresponding ends of which i are made to overlap, one end of each jaw be ing arranged on the inner side of the corresponding end of the opposing jaw, the other end of each jaw being on the outer side of the corresponding end of the opposing jaw, studs passing loosely through the outer ends of the jaws and secured to the inner ends, whereby when the studs are pressed inward, the jaws have a sliding movement in opposite directions, on their pivots substantially as shown and described.

4. A frame for purses, bags, pocket books and like articles, the same consisting of two jaws provided with an interlocking latch and provided with lugs at their inner or lower ends, the lugs at corresponding ends of the two jaws being made to overlap, one lug of each jaw being an inner lug and the other an outer lug, studs loosely passed through the outer lugs and secured to the inner lugs of the jaws, and springs located upon the studs and engaging with the outer lugs of the jaws, opposite ends of the springs engaging with opposite jaws, whereby when the studs are pressed inward the jaws are moved bodily in opposite directions against the tension of the said springs, and the members of the interlocking latch are disconnected, the springs likewise serving as opening springs, as and for the purpose specified.

5. A frame for pocket books, purses and similar articles, the same consisting of pivotally connected jaws, the jaws being capable of bodily movement in opposite directions upon their pivots, and springs carried by the pivots,'and placed under tension when the jaws are moved bodily, the opposite ends of the springs being made to engage with opposite jaws, as and for the purpose specified.

6. The herein described frame for purses, pocket books, bags and similar articles comprising a pair of pivotally connected and spring controlled frame sections, a locking portion on one of said sections, and a holding portion on the other of said sections with IIG which said locking portion is adapted to engage, each frame section being arranged at one end to slide laterally on its pivotal pin, whereby when the sides of the said frame sections are pressed, said locking portion on the one frame section is disengagedfrom holding contact with the other section, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. The herein described frame for purses, pocket books, bags and similar articles, com prising therein, a pair of oppositely connected and spring actuated frame sections, a looking portion on one of said frame sections, and a holding portion on the other of said frame sections with which said locking portion is adapted to engage, each frame section being arranged at one end to slide on its pivotal pin, and a pressure button or projection on each of said sections, whereby when pressure is brought to bear on said pressure buttons or projections, said locking portion on the one frame section is disengaged from holding contact with the other section, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. The herein described frame for purses, pocket books, bags and similar articles, comprising therein two frame sections having perforated ears, pivotal pins, said frame sections being connected with said pins to slide thereon, springs on the said pins, a locking portion on one of said sections, and a holding portion on the other frame section with which said locking portion is adapted to engage, all of said parts being arranged as set forth, whereby when said frame sections are pressed, said locking portion on the one section is disengaged from holding contact with the other section, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

LOUIS B. PRAHAR.

Witnesses:

FRANK SCHENGK, ALBERT DEHN. 

